Search America's historic newspaper pages from 1836-1922 or use the U.S. Newspaper Directory to find information about American newspapers published between 1690-present. Chronicling America is sponsored jointly by the National Endowment for the Humanities external link and the Library of Congress. Learn more

Download & Play

Questions

Newspaper Page Text

At the head of the famous Wenatchee Valley, "The home of the Big Red Apple." The higher up the valley you go, the Bigger and Redder the apples grow
ALL HOME
A PRINT
Vol. 10. No. 1
G. N. TRAFFIC BLOCKED
SINCE SUN. DEC. 29
Nothing Definite About When Road Will
Be Opened Up —Men Buried in
Slide at Tye
If the tie up on the Great Northern
was ever more complete than it has
been for the past twelve days, or since
Sunday, Dec. 29, no man remembers
it. Not even during the great disaster
of three years ago when one hundred
people lost their lives in the great slide
at Wellington, was the road so com
pletely blocked as it has been for the
past twelve days. For two weeks it
has snowed up in the Cascades, and
when it stopped snowing it rained,
which was even worse than snow, be
cause the rain started slides, and right
there is where the trouble began. So
that readers may get an approximately
correct idea of what snow in the Cas
cades means, we will say right here
that it often snows twelve inches in an
hour. When it snows right hard it may
pile up two feet in an hour, so that it
often snows ten, twelve and even fif
teen feet in one night. A big snow
fall in the mountains is something like
a cloudburst of rain in the valleys.
With this word of explanation we will
go on with our story about the Great
Northern blockade. Sunday, Dec.
29 it snowed pretty hard, that night it
snowed harder, and Monday morning
it began to rain. Of course this settled
the snow five or six feet in a short time,
but it also caused slides. A tremen
dous slide came down at the west end
of the concrete sheds erected at Tye
last summer without doing any ser
ious damage to the concrete
work, but right here begins a wood
en shed som six or eight hundred
feet long. This was completely
wrecked, the track being covered wtth
snow, rock, trees and wrecked shed
timbers to a depth of thirty or forty
feet for a distance of some three hun
dred or more feet. There were other
slides of lesser consequence, dozens of
them, indeed they came down too fast
to keep count of them. Not all of
them reached the track, but spent
themselves before reaching the right of
way. Many of these were easily clean
ed out by the rotary snow plows, but
the big slide, where the debris consist
ed of ice, rock and timbers, had to be
cleaned out with shovels and all the
men it was possible to work were en
gaged and set to work.
On Monday of this week, between
eleven and twelve o'clock, a slide
came down and covered a lot of men
engaged in trying to clear the track
where the wooden sheds were carried
away. Some time in the afternoon
two men were rescued with broken
legs and otherwise bruised. One was
taken out dead and two more are
known to be buried beneath the snow
and ice. After it rained a few hours
on the 31st of December it ceased but
turned into snow, and it has been
snowing almost constantly since De
cember 29th. After a slide comes
down and clears the side of a moun
tain of snow it only requires about ten
or twelve hours to pile up enough
snow to form another slide. Where
the snow shed was destroyed is one of
the most exposed spots on the entire
road and it seems almost impossible to
rebuild the sheds before next summer.
Large gangs of men are brought here
from Spokane and taken to the sum
mit, but when they arrive there and
see the danger of being covered by a
slide which may come down without
warning they refuse to go to work.
Men who have been up in the vi
cinity of the summit say one can hear
the rumbling noise of one or more
slides every hour during the day or
night. Not all of them are on the line
of the railroads. Often one can be
heard for miles but can not be seen.
A large slide makes a rumbling noise
like distant thunder. Pine trees two
and even three feet in diameter in the
path of a big slide are broken off like
XLhc Xeavenwortb lEcbo
a reed, or up-rooted, and carried on
down the mountain side.
Wednesday night all the women and
children, families of railroad employes,
were brought down from Tye in a
special train to this place for safety.
General Manager Emerson passed thru
here last Sunday in his special car and
has been at the tunnel ever since.
Wednesday night the women and chil
dren were put in his car and backed
into a place out of the reach of slides,
but the following day, as a precaution,
they were sent out oi harm's way and
are now all housed here. Mr. Scott,
the general superintendent, is also at
the scene of trouble.
There was a vague rumor yesterday
of fifty men being covered by a slide,
indeed there have been rumors every
day, and reports of fifty or one hundred
men being covered by slides. All of
these rumors have been proven untrue.
As to just when traffic will be resumed
there is no way of telling. In the
morning it will be reported that the
road will be open by night. This will
be followed in the evening by another
report to the effect that it may be a
week or two weeks more before the
road is open to travel.
It is reported that the Milwaukee
has given up the fight against the ele
ments and will not try to operate trains
through the Cascades until after the
winter breaks up.
A reliable reporter says the snow is
now twenty feet deep on a level and
well packed and solid.
Latest Slide News
Late last evening word came over
the wires that the road would be open
by 8 o'clock, and that trains would
run on the regular schedule, No. 3
arriving here at 2:30 a.m., going west,
and No. 2 arriving here at 1:30 going
east. A train was made up here and
left for Spokane on No. 4's time.
Word was also brought down from
the scene of the big slide that five
dead bodies were taken out of the
wreckage of the snow sheds, two be
ing Italians and three Americans. It
is now stated that there may still be
other bodies in the wreckage.
LAMB-DAVIS MILL CO
EXPECTS BIG YEAR
Lumber Plant is Closed Down Now for
Repairs—Will Start About March
1 for Record Run
A large force is employed at the
Lamb-Davis Mill these days making
repairs, and installing new machinery
in preparation for the commencing of
operations at an early date in the
spring. While no definite date has
been given out it is believed sawing
will begin not later than the first of
March.
Logging operations have not ceased
this winter and in fact have been con
ducted on a bigger scale than ever be
fore in this section. The Wenatchee
Valley & Northern Railway has been
bringing in two train loads of logs ev
ery day for the past two months and
by the time that the mill starts several
million feet of logs will be in the pond.
We are anticipating a banner year
says F. J. Kline, manager, and every
indication points to a prosperous year
for the whole trade and we expect
to get our share of the business.
The lumber cut promises to be the
heaviest this year in the history of the
mill and it is probable that the total
cut will run close to fifty million feet.
New Addition To Leavenworth
J. W. Miller who recently platted
his land on the north side of the track
expects to have it on the market next
week. The land is divided into half
acre tracts and lots 40x120 feet. The
new addition will be one of the most
desirable residence locations in the
city, and the easy terms on which the
land can be bought should prove a big
attraction for the man with small cap
ital. Lots on the Northside are in
creasing in value every year and this
is one of the safest investments that we
know of.
Leavenworth, Wash., Friday, January 10, 1913
CITY COUNCIL HOLDS
INTERESTING MEETING
Reports of Lawlessness From the Givic
League—New Councilmen Take
Up Their Duties
Three of the old council, Messrs.
Weigand, Lindblom and Campbell
were succeeded by the new members,
Councilmen Featherstone, Saver and
Close at the weekly meeting of the
city council on Tuesday evening. Af
ter a short talk relative to the duties
of the new members by Mayor Carl
quist, in which he declared that there
was to be a new order of things, which
would prohibit the jangling and rag
chewing which has occurred so often
in the past, all members talking at the
same time, the council proceeded to
get busy and took up the following
business.
Of the four new councilmen, Messrs.
Featherstone, Saver, Close and Robert
son, all will serve two years except Mr.
Featherstone who will only be in office
one year. The leogh of time each was
to serve was decided by drawing lots.
The following committees were ap
pointed by Mayor Carlquist: Finance
Com., Mischke, Featherstone and
Saver; Street and Alley Com., Robert
son, Schubert and Saver; Police, Fire
and Light Com., Schubert, Mischke
and Massie; Building Com., Feather
stone, Saver and Schubert; Park Com.,
Close, Featherstone and Massie.
Following is a partial report of State
Examiner L. A. Roberts, who audited
the books of the city several months
ago, covering a period from Oct. 11,
1911 to November 20, 1912.
Warrants outstanding, $1,584.65.
Cash on hand, $445.56.
Assessed Valuation as per 1911 tolls
$449,762.
5% on 1449,762, $22,488.10.
Gross Receipts, including Saloon
licenses, taxes, etc., $12,017.88
Gross Disbursements, 111,572.32.
Besides the financial condition a few
suggestions were offered the clerk and
treasurer on the methods of keeping
their accounts. The Police Judge's
docket was reported to be in excellent
shape.
The cost of auditing the books was
$34.40, $32 of which was Mr. Roberts'
salary and the remainder was for minor
expenses.
Tuesday evening being the date set
for the hearing of protests on the as
sessment roll for Improvement Dis
trict No. 1. which takes in the paved
section, found two copies of objections
on file, one being from O. S. Sampson
et al., and the Great Northern Ry.
The new members of the council not
being familiar with all the points in
controversy, Great Northern Attorney
Balmer, briefly outlined his side of the
case and asked that the assessment
roll be not confirmed. City Attorney
Nelson was next and remarked that in
view of the fact that the paving im
broglio was in the courts, and would
be decided by them in the near future
he would suggest that the council over
rule the objections and lay the whole
matter over until the next meeting
night, at which time they could sit as a
board of equalization and make any
changes found necessary. This seemed
to meet with the approval of the coun
cil and the matter was postponed for
another week.
A letter from H. C. Peters in regard
to the right of way thru his land in the
Cascade Orchards was read in which
he stated that if the city did not wish
to pay him the amount he had asked
for, $400, which he considers a very
small amount, he would resort to the
courts to get satisfaction. Action on
the matter was laid over until the
next meeting.
The cext matter to be disposed of
was a communication from the Civic
League signed by Max Jeffords in
which he stated that there was consid
erable gambling going on in the city,
and asked that steps be taken to put
a stop to this practice. It was also
his wish that an ordinance be prepared
to prohibit the playing of cards and
shaking of dice in saloons and pool
rooms and that all tables and chairs be
removed from such places. Consider
able discussion resulted over this ques
tion and the marshals were questioned
if they had been able to find any gam
bling "joints" as had been intimated.
Marseall Bohnsack who was present
stated that he had been working along
these lines for some time but had been
unable to locate any place where gam
bling was being conducted. It was
decided to lay the communication on
the table indefinitely.
Sam Wilhelm put in references from
Wenatchee and made application for
the office of water commissioner. No
action was taken, although the appli
cation was placed on file for considera
tion.
Mrs. Carrie Huston asked for per
mission to make repairs to the amount
of $20 on a small building near the
Washington Hotel. The matter was
referred to the building committee.
The bond of Clerk Hamilton in the
sum of $500 was signed and placed
on file.
Ordinance No. 106 in regard to the
shoveling of snow from the side walks
inside the fire limits was read and
passed. The provisions of this ordi
nance are that the walks must be
cleared of snow before noon of every
day and that the snow must be thrown
far enough into the streets so as not to
block up the gutters or interfere with
traffic. Persons neglecting to do this
are liable to a fine of from $5 to $15.
Marshall Bohnsack asked that two
lights be installed in the alley between
Eighth and Ninth Streets. The mat
ter was referred to the committee hav
ing such things in charge.
UNKNOWN MAN FOUND
ON RAILROAD TRACK
Dead Body of Stranger Found Near
Chumstick Bridge, About Half
Mile Below Town
Deputy Sheriff Hamilton with the
assistance of Marshall Bohnsack and
several others made a trip to the Chum
stick bridge on a special train last Sat
urday morning to pick up the remains
of a man who had been killed at that
place some time during the night.
The remains were brought to this city
and taken to Wenatchee the following
day by Coroner May, but as yet the
body has not been identified.
It is not known exactly how the
man met his death but it is believed
that he was walking down the track
and was caught on the Chumstick
bridge and before he had time to get
off the bridge was struck by the train.
Some advance the theory that the man
was riding on a train and fell between
the wheels but this is not thought
likely. When found the man was
lying beside the track with both legs
entirely severed from the body.
It was near this place that Dan Na
son the Indian was killed about a year
ago.
President of the Cutntux Club Entertains
Mrs. L. O. Taylor was hostess at a
reception last Saturday afternoon from
three to five, the guests being the
members of the Woman's Literary Club
of Leavenworth and a few other friends.
About twenty-five called during the
afternoon. The rooms were decorated
in Christmas colors, red and green.
The center piece for the lunch table
was a minature Christmas tree. Mrs.
A. G. McKeown, Mrs. J. B. Adams
and Miss Vida Van Cleave assissted
the hostess in serving.
Mr. Ellin wood, on the reportoiial
staff of the Wenatchee World, came up
here yesterday afternoon on the first
train from the east to arrive here ex-
I pecting to get through to the coast.
Mr. Ellinwood was looking for news
for his paper.
Dr. Hoxsey reports the arrival of a
boy to Mr. and Mrs. Tanguay on Tues
day.
Get Butter Wrappers at Echo office.
PARCELS POST PROVING
TO BE A BIG SUCCESS
Local Postoffice is Sending Out About
Thirty Pounds or More of Parcels
Every Day
Leavenworth people used last Wed
nesday, January 1, for the first time
the newest institution in America —the
parcels post. When Postmaster Davis
and his son began sorting the mail
Wednesday morning they found a gen
erous supply of parcels, larger than
usual, and some of a freakish charac
ter waiting to be dispatched. While
all packages will be shipped under the
parcels post in the future Mr. Davis
says that the number is increasing and
predicts that the time is not far oft
when the government will be operating
the express companies.
It will be quite a while before the
public will be familiar with all the
rules governing the new system and
it might be well to say that all pack
ages require a special stamp or else
they will be held in the local office.
The stamps are in denominations of
one cent to twenty five cents. No
provision is made for the registration of
these packages, although they can be
insured for ten cents up to the amount
of $50. The first shipment of parcels
post stamps received by Postmaster
| Davis amounted to $118.
The cost of carriage has been deter
mined as follows:
Ist Each 11
1b add'l lbs
R. F. D. and city de 1..05 .01 .15
50-mile zone 06 .03 .36
150-mile zone 06 .04 .46
300-mile zone 07 .05 .57
500-mile zone 08 .06 .68
1,000-mile zone 09 .07 .79
1,400-mile zone 10 .09 1.00
1,800-mile zone 11 .10 1.11
Over 1,800 miles 12 .12 1.32
That the rates of the parcels post
will be lower than those that went into
effect on January Ist, is predicted by
Postmaster General Frank H. Hitch
cock and in his opinion if the govern
ment bought out the express compan
ies, the lowest rate now established
for the parcels post would be higher
than the highest necessary if the gov
ernment did all the business.
"Establishment of the parcels post
certainly means a downward revision
of rates by the express companies," he
declared. "This means a reduction
in dividends. There are thousands of
persons holding small amounts of stock
in express companies. And their
holdings will become less valuable.
To prevent injury to their interest-, a
fair minded and generous policy would
be to pay the express companies today
for their entire properties as they
stand to-day."
That the parcels post will be a suc
cess is now practically assured. The
enemies of the new system, mainly
the express companies and their asso
ciates have insisted from time to time
that it would prove impracticable as
well as unprofitable to the government,
but from all accounts like the postal
savings bank, the parcels post has
come to stay.
From Joseph Gangler, cashier of
the Tumwater Savings bank we learn
that the deposits of the local postal
Savings bank up to January Ist, 1913,
totaled $2,143.34. This represents
mainly the deposits of foreigners who
are afraid to deposit their money in
regular savings banks, although the
government only pays two per cent as
against four per cent paid by private
banks.
According to statistics given out the
first of the year there are 290,000 de
positors, 12,773 postoffices of the
postal savings bank system of the
United States having on deposit about
$28,000,000. Funds are received in
7357 banks.
Hereafter the meetings of the Ladies
Aid of the Congregational church will
be held on Friday instead of Wednes
day. The next meeting will be held
at the home of Mrs, Hegler. Friday,
January 17.
ALL HOME
A NEWS
~ 1
$1.50 Per Year
No Over-Production of Apples
F. A. Huntley, of Tacoma, state
horticultural commissioner, sees no
great danger of over-production of ap-
Dles. He puts the 1912 crop in
Washington a: 7,500,000 boxes and
the eventual maximum in this state at
not to exceed 20,000,000 boxes.
A recent cencus taken by Mr. Hunt
ley's office found 10,500,000 apple
trees in this state and an orchard area
of about 200,000 acres.
"For the first time," said Mr. Hunt
ley, "we are shipping apples to South
America. This year's crop breaks all
records, and I do not expect as great
an output in this state again for several
years. If we were to be restricted to
narrow markets there would be danger
of ove-production, but if we reach out
for new markets I think the future
crops will find buyers. In the mean
time it is well to start in the manufac
ture of by-products."
MARTIN CHRISTENSEN TAKES
OVER THE KENYON RANCH
Buys Stock and All Tools and Fixtures
and Takes Ten Year Lease on
Ranch
A deal which has been in process
of making for the past two weeks was
closed the first of this week and Mar
tin Christensen has taken charge of
the Kenyon, or perhaps it is best
known by the name of the Smith
ranch, on Eagle Creek.
This is one of the oldest and best
known stock ranches in the county.
Twelve years ago, when land was not
worth anything, the ranch was sold by
John Scmidt, who homesteaded it, for
ten thousand dollars to a Spokane man
bs the name of Moss. Four years ago
it fell into the hands of O. E. Kenyan,
who has since owned it and made
many improvements. There is over
five hundred acres in the place, 160
in cultivation, mostly in timothy mea
dow, and fifty or more acres that can
easily be converted into timothy mea
dow. It is one of, if not the best,
stock ranches in Chelan county. There
is a splendid ranch house, large barns,
stock sheds and other ranch buildings.
There is stock on the ranch at this
time but Mr. Christensen will stock it
to its full capacity with cattle, and will
make stock raising his occupation.
He may finally establish a dairy for
which the place is admirably fitted.
He takes over all the stock on the
place and a lease on the ranch for ten
years.
Harry A. Rhodes, a Spokane attor
ney was here last Friday and Saturday
and drew up the papers by which the
trade was closed. Mr. Chiistensen
has taken charge and will give the
ranch his personal attention. It could
not have fallen into better or more
capable hands. Mr. Christensen is
familiar with the stock business in
which he has spent nearly all his life.
He is well known, having lived here
for the past twelve years, and is uni
versally esteemed. He is a good man
and has the confidence of and good
will of the entire community.
Married In Wenatchee Yesterday
A. L. Haines and Miss Sylvia A.
Benson were united in marriage at We
natchee yesterday morning at the home
of C. A. Battles and arrived hare on
the afternoon train. Rev. R. A. Thomp
son of the Baptist church performed
the ceremony. Miss Benson has made
her home here for some time and has
many friends here. Mr. Haines has
made his home in this city for the past
five years and is at present engaged in
the real estate business.
W. P. Sears, of Cashmere, an old
and staunch friend of the Echo, was
here yesterday visiting his daughters,
of whom he has two who make their
home in Leavenworth, Mrs. C. W.
Wallace and Mrs. M. O. Logan. He
said the apple situation had not im
proved much in the past month. They
are not moving as rapidly as they
should and the price does not show
I encouraging improvement.